Andy Waller
Young Bun
Hi there,
I am new to the forum and fairly new to rabbits and could really do with as much assistance as possible if anyone could help????
We have two male mini lop brothers that are 6 months old. They were neutered at 3 months Pancakes and Smudge.
When we got Pancakes he wasnt too good with Gastroentiritis, we got him to the vets and syringe fed him for four days. He picked up and seems to be fairly ok now although is the slightly smaller rabbit and occasionally has bouts of a slightly dodgy stomach.
The problem we have is that they started to fight at two months of age, we split their original hutch in two using a mesh screen so they could still see and smell each other. The run is co-joining and is also split.
We allow them to go out in the garden together and this is when the problems start.
They scent everything they can. In particular Smudge, he is the slightly bigger of the two. They then start sniffing around each other both low to the ground. This usually ends up with Smudge chasing Pancakes resulting in the garden being covered in fur. It certainly keeps myself fit chasing after them to split them. The only way is to physically pull them apart.
Temperaments wise Pancakes doesnt mind being picked up or touched but can be a bit of a mission to get back in his run.
Smudge will not be touched or picked up; easy to get in his hutch (just shake his food bowl). If he is picked up he will then nip your lap resulting in holes in my trousers. Expensive.
They will both eat from my hand. Pancakes can be stroked whilst doing this, Smudge runs a mile.
Their accomodation so far is a hutch with co-joing run for during the day measuring 5ft x 7ft. They are seperated from each other by a mesh partition but can still see and smell each other. The nightime they have the monster of all hutches which are seperate giving them their own sleeping area and living zone so to speak. This measures 8ft x 4ft.
We have tried taking them out in the car for journeys together and they have been fine for a couple of days. They then try to kill each other. Once back from the car ride we have started them in an area they have never been in before to get accustomed to each other.
Once this is done normally Smudge will reluctently clean Pancakes for a couple of seconds then they both decide they want murder on their hands.
We would love for the two of them to live together for company etc which is the main reason we were persuaded to get two rabbits having never had them before. At the moment they really are hard work as I end up having to follow them both around the garden in case they fight. Much to my neighbours amusement...
If anyone can help we would be most appreciated. We are at our witts end! Apologies for my long winded explanation also!!!
Cheers,
P.S they generally get an hour to an hour and a half bounce around time each evening where they generally try and out compete each other in the craziest bounce competition!!!
I am new to the forum and fairly new to rabbits and could really do with as much assistance as possible if anyone could help????
We have two male mini lop brothers that are 6 months old. They were neutered at 3 months Pancakes and Smudge.
When we got Pancakes he wasnt too good with Gastroentiritis, we got him to the vets and syringe fed him for four days. He picked up and seems to be fairly ok now although is the slightly smaller rabbit and occasionally has bouts of a slightly dodgy stomach.
The problem we have is that they started to fight at two months of age, we split their original hutch in two using a mesh screen so they could still see and smell each other. The run is co-joining and is also split.
We allow them to go out in the garden together and this is when the problems start.
They scent everything they can. In particular Smudge, he is the slightly bigger of the two. They then start sniffing around each other both low to the ground. This usually ends up with Smudge chasing Pancakes resulting in the garden being covered in fur. It certainly keeps myself fit chasing after them to split them. The only way is to physically pull them apart.
Temperaments wise Pancakes doesnt mind being picked up or touched but can be a bit of a mission to get back in his run.
Smudge will not be touched or picked up; easy to get in his hutch (just shake his food bowl). If he is picked up he will then nip your lap resulting in holes in my trousers. Expensive.
They will both eat from my hand. Pancakes can be stroked whilst doing this, Smudge runs a mile.
Their accomodation so far is a hutch with co-joing run for during the day measuring 5ft x 7ft. They are seperated from each other by a mesh partition but can still see and smell each other. The nightime they have the monster of all hutches which are seperate giving them their own sleeping area and living zone so to speak. This measures 8ft x 4ft.
We have tried taking them out in the car for journeys together and they have been fine for a couple of days. They then try to kill each other. Once back from the car ride we have started them in an area they have never been in before to get accustomed to each other.
Once this is done normally Smudge will reluctently clean Pancakes for a couple of seconds then they both decide they want murder on their hands.
We would love for the two of them to live together for company etc which is the main reason we were persuaded to get two rabbits having never had them before. At the moment they really are hard work as I end up having to follow them both around the garden in case they fight. Much to my neighbours amusement...
If anyone can help we would be most appreciated. We are at our witts end! Apologies for my long winded explanation also!!!
Cheers,
P.S they generally get an hour to an hour and a half bounce around time each evening where they generally try and out compete each other in the craziest bounce competition!!!
